Prakash Bhattarai, Kalyani Mishra Tripathi, Durga Mani Gautam, Arjun Kumar Shrestha

Effect of Crop Geometry on Growth, Yield and Quality of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Genotypes

Field experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 at the National Potato Research Programme (NPRP), Lalitpur (1360 masl), Nepal, to determine the effect of crop geometry on the growth, yield, and quality of sweet potato genotypes. The experiment was laid out on sandy loam soil in a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and comprised of a total of twelve treatment combinations of four crop geometry (60cm×25 cm, 60cm×30 cm, 70cm×25 cm, and 70cm×30 cm) and three genotypes (CIP 440015, CIP 440267 and Local White). Among the different crop geometries and genotypes evaluated, 70cm×30 cm plant spacing and Local White genotype were found statistically superior to enhance marketable tuberous root weight per plant (0.572 and 0.541 kg), tuberous root diameter (62.59 and 61.0 mm), shoot fresh weight (509 and 524 g), and tuberous root yield per plant (616 and 620 g). The genotype, Local White yielded higher among the genotypes. The reducing sugar content was influenced significantly by crop geometry and genotypes. The pooled mean showed the highest (15.48 and 17.26 %) reducing sugar in closer geometry 60 cm × 25 cm and Local White genotype respectively and the lowest (11.54 %) in the genotype CIP 440015. CIP genotypes, on the other hand, were high in ß carotene content, whereas the Local genotype had a negligible amount (0.35 mg/100g). On hectare level, our result showed that highest plant density of 66,666 plants ha-1 (60 cm × 25 cm) could give the highest yield per unit area due to greater crop biomass. Our findings suggest that crop geometry can have a considerable impact on sweet potato production. As a result, the geometry of sweet potatoes can be wide or narrow depending on our needs and the area available in our study area or a similar situation.

PDF

___

Alvin JB, Mitchell PD, Copas ME, Drilias, MJ. 2007. Evaluation of the effect of density on potato yield and tuber size distribution. Crop Science, 47:2462-2472.
Antiaobong EE. 2007. Life cycle, economic threshold and control of sweet potato weevils, Cylas puncticollis Boh (Coleoptera : Curculionidae) in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. PhD Dissertation. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Nigeria. pp. 3-5.
AOAC, 2005. Official Method of Analysis (W. Horwitz & G.W. Latimer, EDS) (18th edit.), USA: AOAC International
Berga L, Caesar K. 1990. Relationships between numbers of main stems and yield components of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Erntestolz) as influenced by different day lengths. Potato Research, 33: 257–267. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/ BF02358455
Bhattarai P, Khatri BB, Neupane JD. 2017. Sweet potato is a nutritious crop (A booklet in Nepali). National Potato Research Programme, Khumaltar, Laitpur, Neapl.
Bukema HP, Zaag VD. 1990. Crop Eco-Physiology. Introduction to Potato Production. PUDOC, Wageningen, the Netherlands Delgado M, Yermanos DM. 1975. Yield components of sesame (sesamum indicum L.) under different population densities. Economic Botany, 29, 69. DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.1007/BF02861256
DHM, 2021. Department of Hydrology and Meterology, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
FAO, 2015. Statistical databases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
FAO, 2019. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. FAOSTAT. Available from: http://www.fao.org/ faostat/en/#data/QC (Accessed 5/23/2021)
Gautam DM. 1991. Production, post-harvest handling, and utilization of sweet potato in Nepal. In: Dayal TR, Scott GJ, Kurup GT and C. Processing and use. CIP, Lima, Peru. pp. 23-27.
Gautam DM. 1998. Effect of pre-harvest vine removal on quality and post-harvest behavior of sweet potato. Nepalese Horticulture, 2 (1): 25-30.
Ingabire MR and Vasanthakaalam H. 2011. Comparison of the Nutrient composition of four sweet potato varieties cultivated in Rwanda. American Journal of Food and Nutrition, 1(1):34- 38. doi:10.5251/ajfn.2011.1.1.34.38
Jakahata Y, Noda T, Nagata T. 1993. HPLC determination of β- carotene in sweet potato cultivars and its relationship with color value. Japan Journal of Breed, 43:421-427.
Jamaati-e-Somarin S, Tobeh A, Hassanzadeh M, Hokmalipour S, Zabihi-e-Mahmoodabad R. 2009. Effects of plant density and nitrogen fertilizer on nitrogen uptake from soil and nitrate pollution in potato tuber. R. J. Environ. Sci., 3(1): 122-126
Kadam JR, Karthikeyan S. 2006. Effect of different combinations of soluble NPK fertilizers through drip irrigation on the yield contributing characters, yield, and quality of tomato. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 1(1):64-68.
Koodi S, Singh SP, Rolaniya MK, Raj P. 2017. The Growth, yield, and quality of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) Influenced by different plant densities. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 5(4): 359-361
Kumar D, Singh BP, Paul Khurana SM. 2006. Processing quality of potato hybrid Ht/92-621 during storage at intermediate temperature along with sprout suppressant treatment. Potato Journal, 33(1-2): 90-93
Kumar D, Singh V, Singh BP. 2011. Growth and yield of potato plants developed from in vitro plant lets in net house. Potato Journal, 38 (2): 143-148.
Low JW, Arimond M, Osman N, Cunguara B, Zano F, Tschirley D. 2007. A food-based approach introducing orange-fleshed sweet potatoes increased vitamin A intake and serum retinol concentrations in young children in rural Mozambique. The Journal of nutrition, 137:1320-1327.
Malik NJ. 1995. Potatoes in Pakistan-A Handbook. Pak-Swiss Potato Development Project. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan
Markos D, Loha G. 2016. Sweet potato Agronomy Research in Ethiopia: Summary of past findings and future research directions. Agriculture Food Science Research, 3:1-11.
Miller GL. 1959. Use of dinitrosalicyclic acid reagent for determination of reducing sugar. Analytical Chemistry, 31:426. doi: 10.1021/ac60147a030
Norman AG. 1963. Competition among crop and pasture plants. Advances in Agronomy, 15:1-114.
NPRP, 2014. Sweet potato research. In: Field book for standard evaluation of potato and sweet potato germplasm. National Potato Research Programme (NPRP)-Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Pp: 54-71.
Omiat EG, Kapinga RE, Tumwegamire S, Odong T, Adipala E. 2005. On-farm evaluation of orange-fleshed sweet potato varieties in Northeastern Uganda. African. Crop Science Conference. Proceeding, 7. Pp: 603-609.
Onunka NA, Nwokocha HN. 2003. Response of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) to different levels of nitrogen fertilization in a tropical ultisol of South Eastern Nigeria, 2 (2): 42-46.
Qawasmi W, Mohammad MJ, Najim H, Qubursi R. 1999. Response of bell pepper grown inside plastic houses to nitrogen fertigation. Source Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 30 (17/18):2499-2509
Rahman MH, Patwary MMA, Barua H, Hossain M, Nahar S. 2013. Evaluation of orange fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) genotypes for higher yield and quality. Agriculturists, 11: 21-27.
Rajadurai S. 1994. Effect of seed tuber size and planting space on growth, yield, and tuber size distribution of potato in irrigated red -yellow Latosols of the dry zone. Journal of the National. Science Council., Sri Lanka, 22(2):115-123.
Rangana S. 2007. Handbook of Analysis and Quality control for fruits and vegetable products, 2nd Edition. Tata Mchraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd. New Delhi
Rashid M, Shakur MA. 1986. Effect of date of planting and duration of growing period on the yield of carrot. Bangladesh Horticulture, 14(2):28-32
Singh NP, Singh RA. 2002. Scientific crop production, X press Graphics, Delhi-28, Ist ed., India sweet potato yield in Cameroon. Tropical Agriculture. Trinidad, 69:43-48
Sirkar B, Saha A, Bose TK. 1998. Effect of plant density on growth and yield of radish. Journal of Interacade. 2(6):17-20
Srinivas T. 2009. Economics of sweet potato production and marketing, In: Loebenstein G, Thottapilly G (editors). The sweet potato, Spring Science Business Media. Pp: 436-447.
Srivastava AK, Yadav SK, Diengdoh LC, Rai R, Bag TK. 2016. Effect of plant density on mini-tuber production potential of potato varieties through micro-plants under net-house in North Eastern Himalayan region. Journal of Applied Horticulture, 18(1): 61-63.
Sultana N, Siddique MA. 1991. Effects of cut seed piece and plant spacing on the yield and profitability of potato. Bangladesh Horticulture, 19: 37-43.
Teow CC, Truong VD, McFeeters RF, Thompson R, Pecota KV, Yencho GC. 2007. Antioxidant activities, phenolic, and b carotene contents of sweet potato genotypes with varying flesh colours. Food Chemistry, 103: 829-838
Vimala B, Nambisan B, Hariprakash B. 2011. Retention of carotenoids in orange-fleshed sweet potato during processing. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 48:520-524.
VSN International, 2016. Genstat for Windows 18th Edition. VSN International, Hemel Hempstead, UK Waramboi JG, Dennien S, Gidley MJ, Sop-ade PA. 2010.
Characterization of sweet potato from Papua New Guinea and Australia: physicochemical, pasting and gelatinization properties. Food Chemistry, 126 (4): 1759-1770.
Yahaya SU, Saad AM., Mohammed SG, Afuape SO. 2015. Evaluating the performance of improved sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) advanced lines in Kano, Sudan savanna of Nigeria. International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research, 7(4):52-60.
Zamil MF, Rahman MM, Rabbani MG, Khatun T. 2010. Combined effect of nitrogen and plant spacing on the growth and yield of potato with economic performance. Bangladesh Research Publication Journal, 3(3): 1062-1670